Lansdale man involved in Hatfield crash jailed for leaving the scene

NORRISTOWN – A Lansdale man faces jail time after he admitted to leaving the scene of a two-vehicle crash while driving his mother’s rented car with a suspended license.

Pedro Anthony Duran, 27, of the 800 block of Wedgewood Drive, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 60 days in the county jail and four years’ probation after he pleaded guilty to charges of accidents involving personal injury and driving while operating privileges are suspended in connection with a March 2013 crash in Hatfield Township. Judge William R. Carpenter, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, also ordered Duran to complete 48 hours of community service.

Duran is eligible for the jail’s work release program while serving his stint in jail.

An investigation began about 6 a.m. March 9 when Hatfield Township police responded to the area of Bethlehem Pike and North Broad Street for a report of a vehicle crash with fire coming from the hood of one of the vehicles, according to a criminal complaint. Witnesses reported that an operator of one of the vehicles was walking away from the crash scene.

Police found a trash truck with damage to a rear hydraulic lifting mechanism in the southbound curb lane of Bethlehem Pike and a Dodge Dart “with heavy front end damage and multiple airbag deployments” directly behind the trash truck, according to the arrest affidavit filed by Hatfield Township Police Officer Sean C. Scanlan.

The operator of the trash truck complained of stiffness in his back caused by the crash, court papers indicate.

Witnesses to the crash told police the operator of the Dodge “left the scene on foot without providing information or rendering aid” to the trash truck operator, according to the arrest affidavit. Police observed an open beer can in the front console area of the Dodge Dart, court papers indicate.

Police traced the Dodge to a rental company and a rental agreement indicated the vehicle had been leased to Duran’s mother, according to the criminal complaint. When contacted about the crash, Duran’s mother was surprised to learn the vehicle wasn’t parked in front of her home, court papers indicate. Upon checking outside Duran’s mother noticed the car was indeed missing and that her son was not at home, Scanlan alleged in the arrest affidavit.

A check of Pennsylvania Department of Transportation records revealed that Duran’s driver’s license was suspended at the time of the crash.

Witnesses to the crash later positively identified Duran as the operator of the Dodge and the man they observed walking away from the crash scene.

The investigation determined the crash occurred when Duran failed to recognize that the trash truck ahead of him was stopped for a steady red signal at the intersection and he struck the truck from behind, court papers alleged.

Other charges of duty to give information, abandoning vehicle on highway, careless driving, speeding and possessing an open container of alcohol were dismissed against Duran as part of the plea agreement.